ATASCADERO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the latest ongoing assaults on Atascadero State Hospital employees,
two direct-care hospital staff were seriously assaulted last night by a
patient.

According to ASH employee reports to the California Association of
Psychiatric Technicians regarding events occurring the evening of
December 19, a Senior Psychiatric Technician and a Psychiatric
Technician were attacked, with the Senior Psychiatric Technician
sustaining severe head trauma. The SPT remains hospitalized by his
injuries at this time. The patient has been arrested and currently is in
the San Luis Obispo County jail.

Located in San Luis Obispo County, Atascadero State Hospital received a
second round of citations this November from the California Division of
Occupational Safety and Health – better known as Cal/OSHA – for
continuous patient assaults on staff. These latest $27,675 in citations
and related fines are in addition to others issued earlier this spring
for similar employee-safety concerns. To date, all of California’s
forensic state hospitals – Atascadero, Coalinga in Fresno County,
Metropolitan in Los Angeles County, Napa in Napa County and Patton in
San Bernardino County -- have received similar Cal/OSHA citations for
patient assaults on employees and other safety concerns.

Following the Oct. 23, 2010, murder of Napa State Hospital Psychiatric
Technician Donna Gross by a patient on hospital grounds, CAPT and other
state-employee unions – AFSCME Local 2620, the California Statewide Law
Enforcement Association, SEIU Local 1000 and the Union of American
Physicians and Dentists – formed the Safety Now Coalition. Coalition
members have been working in Gross’ memory to improve safety conditions
on behalf of both staff and patients in California’s state-hospital
system.

POMONA, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--After 87 years of providing vital services for Californians with a wide range of disabilities, Lanterman Developmental Center will close its doors this ... more »